How are all of you today? It was a very busy weekend for us here in Michigan, with a power outage, and amazing things happening, and a walk in our favorite park on a very blustery day.
We were scarcely alone in the power outage thing, and it’s no wonder with the strong winds that were blowing. It all made me think of the Winnie the Pooh story of the blustery day, when little Piglet tries to fly a kite and is taken up into the sky!
We were not taken up into the sky, except in our minds. Did you see the amazing sky, with the fabulous clouds?
“Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because He comes to judge the earth.” (I Chronicles 16:33)
We intended for our walk to be brief, because of the strong winds, but it wasn’t. The temperature was in the mid-sixties, and we actually saw people around the lake, dressed in t-shirts, fishing!
We began looking for signs of spring, but they were impossible to escape! The first thing we heard when we opened the car door was the song of the red-winged blackbird, just returned!
We also heard spring peepers as we drove to the park, but I couldn’t get a recording of them. But my heart sings when I hear that little chorus! (Did you know those little frogs can be pink?)
As we walked around the lake, we saw few animals, but the ones we did see were almost all in pairs.
When I saw the swans, I thought of the scripture verse about marriage. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:23) Earlier in the day, our pastor was teaching on how we are made in the image of God, and our relationships in marriage ought to aim at being a type of the relationship within the Trinity.
The apostle Paul refers to the relationship between the Father, Son and Spirit as “the beloved,” and explains that we who believe are “accepted in the beloved” because of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 1:6) Isn’t that a beautiful phrase? There is warmth even in thinking it.
The swans were moving so identically to each other, swimming, diving at the same moment, nuzzling each other and just being together. If they were humans, I would say they were in love; but who am I to say that swans don’t feel the same things? (I have never spoken to any swan on that subject.)
I even noticed some jealous behavior.
The geese were also showing similar signs of courtship, swimming in pairs. However, their pairings appeared less harmonious.
We wrapped up our walk reluctantly, but Beau noticed this on the way out:
What an encouragement after such a long, cold winter. I know there are a few cold snaps before it really warms up, but we saw a wild flower! In bloom! And a bug!
I was disappointed that we didn’t see Park Security, though. Remember our checkpoint friends? As we drove through the surrounding county and headed back home, we took the route past the last place where we had seen them, and I saw the one we call “Pretty!”
“That’s them!”
I pulled over and we saw that most of them were still hanging out at their “winter resort.”
The honking began as soon as we parked, and they began moving, somewhat guiltily, toward the car. We stayed just a few seconds, enough to assure ourselves that it was them.
Either way, we were very glad to see our good ol’ Park Security, alive and well, after such a cold winter! (I hope they go back where they belong, though!)
(I see a goose, or is it a swan?)
Let the things that God has created inspire you, my friends! His promise that springtime will come after every winter is on full display outside your window. Look for the snowdrops, look for the crocus. Look for the emerging herbs of all kinds!
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Genesis 8:22)
God is faithful and will do everything that He has promised. May God bless you and keep you this week! Much love to you from the Fullers Four!
The Fullers Four 
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